With Spring having just arrived, garden activity has been increasing. The apple and pear trees have bloomed and gardeners already have lovely plants growing. Children’s garden classes have begun!

As you may know, the garden is in need of funding. You can help! We are applying for a grant through Seeds of Change, a leading producer of certified organic seeds. In order to move forward in the selection process, we need to have popular votes. By voting every day during the voting period, you increase our likelihood of being selected to receive up to $20,000 in funding. Please visit the Seeds of Change Facebook page at www.facebook.com/seedsofchange or www.seedsofchangegrant.com and vote once per day from April 2 to April 20. Once voting closes, the 50 organizations with the most votes will move on to the final judging phase. Please spread the word and have friends, family, and anyone who cares about the garden vote!

If you feel like getting your hands dirty or working with children in the garden, we would love your help through volunteer work. We are always on the lookout for Children’s Garden Volunteers. Our classes are scheduled as follows.

  • Mondays March 30-April 27 from 12:45-3:45PM- Denise Louie Education Center class 1
  • Tuesdays April 21-May 12 from 8:15-11AM- Denise Louie Education Center class 2
  • Wednesdays April 8-May 27 from 2:30-5:30PM- Bailey Gatzert Elementary After School Program
  • Thursdays April 23-May 28 from 4-6PM- Chinese Information Service Center
  • Fridays April 24-May 29 from 3:30-5:30PM- Nihonmachi Terrace Apts

We also have a need for volunteers to help with pruning, mulching, trash pick up, chicken coop cleaning, and general garden maintenance. Any certified arborists out there who are willing to donate their time? We would love to connect! We have regularly scheduled volunteer days on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

  • Tuesdays- April 14-June 2 from 9:30-12:30, 1:30-4:30
  • Thursdays- April 9-June 4 from 1-4PM
  • Saturdays- every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10AM-2PM

To get involved by volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Lauren Wong, at lwong@interimicda.org.

Also in exciting news, check out the Sierra Club Magazine March/ April issue which features an article about sustainable food growing and includes photos of the garden and our beloved friend and previous garden manager, Jonathan Chen.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-2-march-april/feature/local-roots-vs-industrial-agriculture#8